Our community has been through a lot due to the ongoing pandemic, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your health and safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority of our dental practice, and you may have seen that we take great pride in this. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep the patients, staff, and the ones we come in contact with in our daily lives safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

Upon the emergence of COVID-19, here are some additional measures we take to ensure your safety:
  • Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office, and we will be taking your temperature. Based on your answers and if your temperature is 100.4°F or higher, we will need to reschedule your appointment.
  • We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in other places in the office for you to use as needed.
  • You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect. Similarly, please limit the personal belongings that you bring inside to your appointment.
  • Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients when possible. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment. Please respect the social distancing requirement of 6 feet where practical.
  • We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time. To that end, please consider calling from your car to check on the status of the reception area and be on time. Also, please come alone to your appointments. If needed, one guardian/caretaker is permitted, but they must remain in the reception area.
  • Please arrive with face masks/coverings for they will be required at all times for both patients and staff when appropriate.
  • An antiseptic mouth rinse will be used just prior to treatment for the health and safety of all. Where possible, expect changes in how we do certain procedures to eliminate or reduce the spread of aerosols and splatter during treatment. For example, for now we will be temporarily eliminating ultrasonic tools and teeth polishing during your teeth cleaning appointments until further notice.
  • Clear sneeze guard barriers between you and our front desk personnel will be used to aid in social distancing, and we ask that we all limit our conversations to what’s necessary to limit contact time. More regular and frequent sanitizing of high touch areas and items will be done for your health and safety. This includes door and other handles, light switches, countertops, etc.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at 415-752-8311 .

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors, and friends.

Sincerely,
Dr. Leo Arellano

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3030 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118 | Directions
New Patients please call 415-881-4343
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Comfortable oral appliance treatment for sleep apnea in San Francisco

Posted By: | Published On: | Snoring And Sleep Apnea
Comfortable oral appliance treatment for sleep apnea in San Francisco
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Dr. Leo Arellano offers comfortable oral appliance treatment in San Francisco for sleep apnea, a serious condition that affects more than 18 million Americans. Although CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the conventional treatment, many patients fail to comply with CPAP due to discomfort and inconvenience. An oral appliance is a terrific alternative for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

People who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping, sometimes for a minute, or longer, this can occur hundreds of times per night. The sleeper is usually unaware of these pauses because they don’t cause a full awakening. OSA is caused by the airway becoming blocked, usually by soft tissue collapsing in the rear of the throat. During these pauses, the brain partially wakes the sleeper to signal the need to resume breathing. The result is poor quality, extremely fragmented sleep.

What is oral appliance therapy?

Oral appliance therapy utilizes an appliance similar to an orthodontic retainer or sports guard. It is designed to maintain an unobstructed, open airway when worn while sleeping. Oral appliances custom made by a dental professional are proven more effective than the devices sold over the counter. The doctor may recommend a tongue-retaining appliance, which stabilizes the tongue in a forward position, or a mandibular repositioning appliance, which repositions the lower jaw.

We are here to help Call us at 415-881-4343 or Schedule an Appointment

What are the advantages of oral appliance therapy?

  • The appliances provided by a dental professional are easy to wear and comfortable. Patients typically require only a couple of weeks to adapt to them.
  • The convenient, small appliances are easy to use when traveling
  • The non-invasive treatment is reversible
  • The compliance rate with oral appliance therapy is higher than CPAP therapy

If applicable, the doctor may also recommend some lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthy, stopping smoking, avoiding sedatives, allergy treatment, changing sleep positions, and developing a good sleep routine. It is also recommended that patients avoid caffeine, alcohol, and heavy meals within two hours of bedtime.

Dr. Arellano and his team have extensive experience in helping San Francisco sleep well. Call 415-881-4343 and schedule an appointment today.

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Real Patients Real Results

Before and After Photos

Commonly small upper lateral incisors are conservatively made larger with no-prep porcelain veneers.

Photo by Dr. Leo Arellano

Veneers – BNA Image – 12
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What our patients are saying...

originally posted on Google
5.0

We’ve gone to Dr Arellano for many years and have never been disappointed with any of the work he’s done. Recently my husband broke a tooth and Leo got him in and had the tooth repaired within a few short hours. Service like that is very hard to finds these days. His office staff is fantastic. Nice people you are always glad to see. I would highly recommend Dr Arellano to anyone who is searching for an honest, competent, well trained dentist.

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"Why choose us?" The bottom line is, it's all about YOU.

Contact our San Francisco dental office to schedule a one on one consultation with Dr. Arellano, and experience the benefits of a truly healthy mouth and a great looking smile.

Dr. Leo Arellano is a Board-certified dentist San Francisco, CA and nearby Bay Area communities Dr. Leo Arellano is a Board-certified dentist with more than three decades of experience serving San Francisco, CA and nearby Bay Area communities. He is licensed in LANAP periodontal therapy and certified by the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry certified in Nd:YAG laser treatment. Dr. Arellano is known for providing conservative restorative treatments and artisan-quality cosmetic enhancements, using the latest technology and techniques. He has extensive experience in Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique for treating gum disease.